Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-09-28
Such a FlOtilla OF Steamers and
Sailing Craft Never Before
Seen In New York.
Thirty Thousand People Witness
the Contest from their Decks.
No Such Intense IntereStin In Yacht
Ing Ever Before DeVel.
Oped In America.
New YORK, Sept. 27

New YORK, Sept. 81.
The Volunteer and Thistle are across the
line and another international contest for the
Americas cup has begun.
1t is safe to say that no such intense inter
est in yacht racing was ever before devel
oped in America. This is because no such
doubt ever before existed as to the result
Both boats are very much faster than anv il
the waters where they belong. All know
what General Paine's sloop can do with the
American flyers The Clyde clippers victo
ries over her British rivals are already well
established facts in yachting history Bu
what the two would do when sailing agains
each other has been to the very last a matter
of absolute uncertainty.
Today's race, the first of the series, is ovel
the inside course, known as the New York
Yacht Club course, SO miles in length A
large part of it is smooth water sailing. AS
the Thistle has been regarded at her best un-
der these conditions, everybody has set this
down as the most exciting contest of the
week. The tide at the starting hour was
nearly low. The yachts will have a head
fair tide back. The course must be sailed
over by the winning boat inside of seven
hours.
The morning dawned in this city thick and
hazy' and at 8 so the wind was from the " est
and blowing but two miles an hour. 1t was
very thick of shore and there was much dis
appointment in the harbor, for unless the
haze cleared away all knew that it would
greatly interfere with the race.
Fort WADswoRTH, Sept 81.
8 35.-A heavy fog hangs over the bay.
Objects mile distant cannot be recognized.
There is absolutely no wind. The sun is
making feeble attempt to penetrate the fog.
From present indications there can be no
race today.
10 00.-There is not enough wind to move
boat. Sailing vessels which are standing
down the bay are moved by the tide alone
The sun is just breaking through mass Of
fog. Thousands of people line the hills
about Ford Wadsworth and many gaily be
decked craft have passed out to get view of
possible race.
New YORK, Sept. 27.
l00.-The race was started at 1894, the
Thistle crossing the line first. At II 45 the
Volunteer had passed the Thistle. At 1851
the Volunteer struck little streak of wind
but the Thistle was almost entirely becslmed
The Yankee heels gracefully and is making
good time and increasing her lead. At II 80
the Volunteer had just caught magnificent
puff and started ahead with a great rush
The Thistle is still waiting behind in a calm
The American sloop lea Is the Scotchman by
nearly mile.
1.0S.-The Thistle at Los passed Fort
Wadsworth, which the Volunteer passed al
one O'Clock. The sails of the Volunteer are
drawing finely, while those of the Thistle
shake for lack of wind. The wind is light
from the west.
Fort WADswoRTH, Sept. 81.
l.19-The Volunteer has opened the gap
considerably and she is now certainly two
miles ahead and still gaining. Her sail.
seem to draw better than the Thistle's Both
have the same wind at this time. 1t blows
from the west at the rate of about eight miles
an hour.
l3O-The Volunteer is disappearing il
the haze opposite lower quarantine, with a
lead of at least two miles. Both yachts are
carrying club topsails of the largest size
mainsails and three head sails.
SANDY HOOK, Sept. 27.
1.5l.-The Yachts are below buoy l2. The
Volunteer is now about three-quarters of
mile ahead.
New YORK, Sept. 27.
2O0.-The wind has fallen to two miles al
hour aud the boats are drifting. Unless the
wind increases to a fresh breeze within the
next hour the boats will be unable to fnist
within the time limit as they will have tC
contend with a strong head tide on the home
stretch.
3I7.-The Volunteer is heading for Sand,
Hook Light, about mile to the eastward o
Scotland lightship The Thistle is fully two
miles behind. The wind is light from the
south.
3.45.-The Volunteer is now rounding
Sandy Hook lightship.
HIGHLAND, Sept. 27.
40l The Thistle can now be seen ia the
mist turning the Sandy Hook lightship.
New YORK, Sept. 27.
The Volunteer finished at 5 25 80, and the
Thistle at 5.43 Is.
After the race Bell admitted that he wa:
badly beaten, and said he never saw the This
tie sail so badly; she seemed to clog on the
bottom. He was satisfied, however, that she
couldn't have won at her best, as she va,
badly handicapped by the wind and tide. and
was satisfied if the committee was, and would
not complain.
The chief officer of the Mohiean said the
Thistle was badly handicapped by the fleet.
When the Volunteer got the lead she started
right after her. churnng and tearing up the
water.
Bell and Capt Barr acquiesced in thi:
statement. Bell said the wind had to reach
the Thistle through the spaces in the big
boats, which made it so streaky that it was
hard telling wherever he really was. "But,
said he, 'we did our best and we wont com
plain"
The Thistle will be docked tomorrow and
thoroughly overhsuled.
Capt. Barr said be never saw the Thistle
sail so badly. He hoped the excursion steam
ers and tugs would show more consideration
for the yachts the next time
Such fiotilla of steamers and sailing craft
was never before seen in New York bay. II
is estimated that thirty thousand people wit.
messed the contest from their decks. So
eager were their captains to give the psssen-
gers good view that they ran the risk Of